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A book burner in a future fascist state finds out books are a vital part of a culture he never knew. He clandestinely pursues reading, until he is betrayed. Fahrenheit 451 Fahrenheit 451 is a 2018 dystopian television film written and directed by Ramin Bahrani, that premiered on HBO, Saturday, May 19. It stars Michael B. Jordan as Guy Montag, Michael Shannon as Captain Beatty, and Sofia… (more)

Huxley's terrifying vision of a controlled and emotionless future "Utopian" society is truly startling in its prediction of modern scientific and cultural phenomena, including test-tube babies and rampant drug abuse. Brave New World If you like Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, here are some other titles you may enjoy. Anthony Burgess's hero, the hedonistic and violent Alex, is our guide… (more)

In a society in which books are outlawed, Montag, a regimented fireman in charge of burning the forbidden volumes, meets a revolutionary school teacher who dares to read. Suddenly he finds himself a hunted fugitive, forced to choose not only between two women but between personal safety and intel... Read More »

In a society in which books are outlawed, Montag, a regimented fireman in charge of burning the forbidden volumes, meets a revolutionary school teacher who dares to read. Bradbury's fiery tale will be turned into a TV movie on HBO May 2018.

From the critics

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Perhaps fans of Science Fiction might love this book, but honestly, it's not my genre of choice. I read the book decades after publication because my granddaughter read it in school and we discussed the book pretty much coming to the same conclusions. She was frustrated with the characters, I was not fond of a dystopian world. We both agreed that Beatty had the best lines and that the ending was flat.

Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel written by Ray Bradbury. Although the book was published more than half a century ago, it remains a classical best-seller. The novel’s subject is relevant and captivating today and, very likely, it will be just as pertinent in 50 years from now.

Guy Montag, protagonist of the novel, lives in the futuristic United States. He is married and has a respected job. Mr. Montag is a fireman; he searches for, captures, and burns books. In his world, books are dangerous, illegal objects. One day, after conversing with an uncharacteristically lively and intelligent teen, Guy starts feeling uneasy about his work, family, and life in general. He tries to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it, but it’s not simple to do in a society where critical thinking or even thinking at all is deemed subversive and abnormal. To make matters even shakier, Guy secretively saves a book from burning and brings it home – an action the cost of which can be his own life. (Submitted by Mariya)

I truly wanted to love this book. I really did. It's classic book, and everyone raves about it. I even loved the book in the first 9/10 of it. But the ending dragged my 10/10 to an 9/10, and that's being extremely lenient.

As I said, I loved the first 90-95% of the book. The writing was clear, the story followable, and it was very well written.

SPOILER ALERT! DON'T READ ON IF YOU HAVE NOT READ!

However, after the city was bombed(which was never even eluded to earlier in the book, as any mention of war was about how is was going to be a easy win), the book fell apart. The sadness displayed by Guy was a strong point of that, but everything else was ridiculous. I was left with questions such as "The city got bombed? How? The war was supposed to be an easy one.", and those questions were never answered. And then, they decided to go back to the city they were fleeing! It makes no sense!

I don't know if it was me or the book, but I disliked the ending very much. However, since the rest of the book was near flawless, I give the book 9/10 and a "Would strongly recommend reading".

While I am not a big fan of dystopian science fiction, I find I will willingly go there with Bradbury. This novel is poetic, prophetic, and moving as it examines the intersection of technology, censorship, violence, and freedom. My only objection is around how Bradbury envisions and treats his female characters in general - I wish they had the depth, complexity, and agency of his male characters. Still, I love this book and have read it and will reread it many times.

3.5 Stars - I recommend if you enjoy classic sci-fi and dystopian novels.

This story follows Guy Montag, a firefighter. In his world, firefighters burn books. Books ruin society, and his job is to eliminate them, and jail their owners. However, his own life isn't happy, but he doesn't know what he missed him.

Unpopular opinion: I just didn't love this book. I really wanted to, but classic sci-fi/dystopian novels are just not my thing. They don't explain the technology super well, it feels like the future but also like the past... and it's just I dunno... it's just not my thing. I know that a lot of people love it, and that's awesome, but I just don't. I did, however, love the message behind the book and appreciate the importance of the novel... especially for it's time. I'm glad that I read it, it's very very short... and I can't wait to see what HBO did with the adaptation. Confession: I have a big crush on Michael B. Jordan.

Bradbury illustrates elaborate descriptions of the setting and characters of Fahrenheit 451, creating a very pleasant experience for the reader to easily visualize the plot and conflict. Bradbury does an exquisite job at constructing his message for the readers of the novel, stressing his view of the dangers that an addiction to technology can bring. However, it is important to avoid misconstruing the message that the author is attempting to convey, although many have seen his novel as a stance against government censorship and other controversial topics.

Fahrenheit 451 has withstood the test of time and Bradbury has proven to be one of the most influential science fiction writers ever. This novella is quick to read, yet deeply thought provoking. The story reflects on the 20th century's historical book burning, its contemporary political suppression of the McCarthy Era, and anticipates futuristic controlling technology of state and corporate media thought control. Definitely a must for anyone who loves books.

I don’t normally write negative reviews, but I truly think this book wasted a lot of its potential. The idea of a society that has banned all books and even the freedom of thought is very unique. I liked how the book began, as it introduced the reader to a dystopia. I even liked the message that Bradbury may have tried to get across— that one should always think for themselves and strive to learn. However, it seemed rushed, and at times, confusing. Some parts jumped to other parts too quickly, and the fast paced scenes were written too rushedly. Nothing was ever descriptive, and it was hard to visualize what you were reading. Not only that, but the ending was inconclusive and unsatisfactory. There is a sequel, but I can’t be bothered to read it because of how the first book turned out. In conclusion, I think Bradbury could have wrote this way better, and I would rate this book a 3/10.
@Sonorous of the Hamilton Public Library Teen Review Board

A heavy-hitting novel in the dystopian genre is Fahrenheit 451. However, it involves a different approach, and quite a unique one: the society is pushed to burn books. Those who read them are deemed criminals, and firemen are ordered to burn them rather than to put out fires. This unusual tactic is used by the writer to allow the book to send a significant message to its audience, provoking awareness that in today's age must be acknowledged -- a reason why it is applicable today and teens should give it a read. As a relatively shorter and contemporary book, Fahrenheit 451 summons a combination of exciting prose, thoughtful characters (both protagonists and antagonists alike), as well as an interesting lesson that is more relevant as the years go by. Having been originally published in 1953, the dystopia depicts a society in complete uniformity, with loyalty to the absolute power of the government. Today it is still recognized and highly recommended by its readers, well-known for its iconic setting of a disgruntled world from the inside. Rating: 4 of 5
@Mercurial_Series of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library

The book Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury was a warning. It’s a warning to us about how if we don’t question the entity around us, we won’t be able to see things as how it is. This dystopian book is telling a story of a time when books and most literacy is illegal. This then causes people to stop thinking, and just live a life only to be entertained. Everyone is superficially happy with their lives and don’t mind it. But after a firefighter (someone who burns houses with books), Guy Montag, meets his next door neighbour, everything changes. Clarisse (his next door neighbour) is everything the government in the story don’t like. She questions everything around her, and sees things differently to the brainwashed people around her. I could go on all day, but that is the just of it. I would highly recommend seeing as how the message from this book has never been more relevant. My rating for this book is ⅘.
@canthelpmyshelve of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library

Quotes

"'My grandfather ran off the V-2 rocket film a dozen times and then hoped that someday our cities would open up more and let the green and the land and the wilderness in more, to remind people that were alotted a little space on earth and that we survive in that wilderness that can take back what it has given, as easily as blowing its breath on us or sending the sea to tell us we are not so big. When we forget hoe close the wilderness is in the night, my grandpa said, someday it will come in and get us, for we will have forgotten how terrible ad real it can be.'"

"'I hate a Roman named Status Quo!' he said to me.' stuff your eyes with wonder,' he said,'live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories. Ask no garantees, ask for no security, there never was such an animal. And if there was, it would be related to the great sloth which hangs upside down in atree all day every day, sleeping it's life away. To hell with that,' he said,'shake the tree and knock the great sloth down on his ass.'"

britprincess1ajax
Aug 02, 2016

"Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were headed for shore."

britprincess1ajax
Aug 02, 2016

"Most of us can't rush around, talk to everyone, know all the cities of the world, we haven't time, money or that many friends. The things you're looking for, Montag, are in the world, but the only way the average chap will ever see ninety-nine percent of them is in a book."

britprincess1ajax
Aug 02, 2016

"Those who don't build must burn."

britprincess1ajax
Aug 02, 2016

"You're afraid of making mistakes. Don't be. Mistakes can be profited by. Man, when I was younger I shoved my ignorance in people's faces. They beat me with sticks. By the time I was forty my blunt instrument had been honed to a fine cutting point for me. If you hide your ignorance, no one will hit you and you'll never learn."

britprincess1ajax
Aug 02, 2016

"There was a silly damn bird called a Phoenix back before Christ, every few hundred years he built a pyre and burned himself up. He must have been first cousin to Man. But every time he burnt himself up he sprang out of the ashes, he got himself born all over again. And it looks like we're doing the same thing, over and over, but we've got one damn thing the Phoenix never had. We know the damn silly thing we just did. We know all the damn silly things we've done for a thousand years and as long as we know that and always have it around where we can see it, some day we'll stop making the goddam funeral pyres and jumping in the middle of them. We pick up a few more people that remember, every generation."

"Ask for no guarantees, ask for no security, there never was such an animal. And if there were, it would be related to the great sloth which hangs upside down in a tree all day every day, sleeping its life away. To hell with that,......"

In the future, books are illegal. With the profession of 'fireman', Montag is quite happy burning down homes and occasionally their owners as he and his team destroy books. But when his neighbour, a slender blonde of fifteen, plants the idea of a better society - one where books are legal - in his mind, his curiosity leads to his qeustioning their lifestyle.